File management system of image data

ABSTRACT

In a system for file managing image data of an electronic camera, so long as the image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus, a peculiar file name which is not overlapped is generated and in order to prevent that a plurality of files of the same name exist, when an electronic camera is connected to a main body of a computer, a storage device in the electronic camera is examined from a host application of the computer, and when a file of a file name including numerical values exceeding a predetermined value is found, a message is displayed for the user in a manner such that after all of the files having the file names which had automatically been formed were transferred to the computer, all of the contents in the storage device are deleted or formatted. When the detachable storage device is loaded or a power source is turned on, if the file having the unique file name which was automatically generated does not exist in the storage device, the numerical values held in the electronic camera are initialized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] In an image pickup apparatus such as an electronic camera or thelike, the invention relates to a file management system of an imagepickup apparatus such that in case of storing recording image data as afile into a storage device, even if a storage medium is exchanged, solong as the data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus, apeculiar file name is automatically formed for a recording image.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] Hitherto, in case of recording an image onto a recording mediumby an electronic camera, although it is necessary to allocate a name toa file of the image, a method whereby a number to be updated everyphotographing operation is included in the file name has been proposed.In such an apparatus, however, when the recording medium is exchanged,the number included in the file name of the image is reset. Therefore,there is a case where a plurality of files of the same name exist.

[0005] Since a conventional file management system of image data isconstructed as mentioned above, there are the following problems.

[0006] That is, in the case where the file name is formed as mentionedabove, when it is intended to transfer data from the storage device ofthe electronic camera to a computer, there is a possibility such thatfiles of the same name also exist in an auxiliary storage device of thecomputer. In such a case, the user has to take a procedure such that thefile existing in the auxiliary storage device of the computer isoverwritten or, since the same file name exists, a message to instructto change the file name is displayed, or the like.

[0007] Although the number of file names which can be formed isdetermined by the number of digits of numerical values which areincluded in the file name, in case of forming a file while sequentiallyincluding a series of numerical values, for example, starting from 0among numerical values of five digits into the file name, the number ofnumerical values which can be used is equal to 100000 within a rangefrom “00000” to “99999”. Therefore, file names exceeding 100000 cannotbe formed. In order to avoid such a limitation, for example, there is amethod of returning the numerical values included in the file name tothe original numerical values in a manner such that, for instance, thefile name which is formed subsequently to “IMG99999. JPG” is set to“IMG00000. JPG”. In this case, however, if the file of “IMG00000. JPG”still exists in the storage device, the file which has originallyexisted will be overwritten.

[0008] Since numerical values to be included in the file name aredetermined by examining the file names of the files existing in therecording medium to record data, in the case where the recording mediumis exchangeable, the file of the same file name is formed on a pluralityof recording media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the invention to solve the problems asmentioned above.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a file managementsystem of image data, in which a peculiar file name which is notoverlapped can be allocated so long as it is recorded by the same imagepickup apparatus, thereby making it possible to prevent a situation thata plurality of files of the same name exist.

[0011] A file management system of image data according to one aspect ofthe invention is constructed as follows.

[0012] (1) A file management system for managing photographed image dataas files comprises a counter for updating a numerical value every imagerecording and generating means for generating a file name on the basisof the numerical value of the counter, wherein when the recording imagedata is stored as a file, even in case of recording all of the imagedata photographed by a same image pickup apparatus onto differentrecording media, an individual file name which is not overlapped isformed when they are recorded by the same image pickup apparatus.

[0013] (2) In the above system of (1), when the numerical value of thecounter lies within a preset range, a warning and a predetermined methodof taking a countermeasure are displayed.

[0014] (3) In the system of (2), the numerical values are sequentiallyincluded in the file name in accordance with the order from the smallernumerical value, the numerical values included or the numerical value tobe next included are stored into the counter, and a preset range is setequal to or more than a predetermined value based on the storednumerical value.

[0015] (4) In the system of (2), the numerical values are sequentiallyincluded in the file name in accordance with the order from the largernumerical value, the numerical values included or the numerical value tobe next included are stored into the counter, and the preset range isset equal to or less than a predetermined value based on the storednumerical value.

[0016] (5) In the system of (2), when the numerical value of the counterlies within the preset range and the file formed before does not existin a storage device in which the file is formed, the numerical value ofthe counter is initialized.

[0017] (6) In any one of the systems of (2) to (4), the predeterminedmethod of taking a countermeasure is to delete the file to which thefile name was allocated among the files included in the storage deviceserving as a target.

[0018] (7) In any one of the systems of (2) to (4), the predeterminedmethod of taking a countermeasure is to format the storage deviceserving as a target.

[0019] The above and other objects and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description and theappended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an equipment constructionof an embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system construction of theembodiment;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system construction of anelectronic camera in the embodiment;

[0023]FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are flowcharts showing the operation whena memory card is inserted into the electronic camera;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation when data is storedinto the memory card in the electronic camera;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an exceptionprocess when the memory card is inserted into the electronic camera;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of an exceptionprocess in a host application of the electronic camera;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relation between numerical valuesincluded in a file example and numerical values included in a directoryname in which they have been stored; and

[0028]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of files which are formedby the electronic camera in the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an equipment construction of anembodiment of the invention and shows a constructional example of apersonal computer system including an electronic camera (image pickupapparatus) as a platform.

[0030] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a computer;2 a display for displaying data; 3 a mouse serving as a typical pointingdevice; 4 a mouse button; 5 a keyboard for inputting and outputting; and6 an interface for connecting an electronic camera 7 to the computer. Ageneral interface such as bidirectional parallel interface, SCSIinterface, or the like which can transmit an image at a high speed isused as an interface 6.

[0031]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a filemanagement system including software and hardware according to theembodiment. In the diagram, reference numeral 19 denotes hardware; 15 anoperating system (hereinafter, abbreviated to “OS”) which operates onthe hardware 19; and 14 application software which operates on the OS15.

[0032] Blocks which are not directly necessary when explaining theembodiment although they are obviously included as componentrequirements among the blocks constructing the hardware 19 and OS 15 arenot shown. As examples of the blocks which are not shown, there are aCPU and a memory as hardware and a memory management system and the likeas OSs.

[0033] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 25 denotes a hard disk to physicallystore a file or data, and 18 indicates a file system constructing the OS15 and having a function for enabling the application software 14 toinput and output the file without being aware of the hardware 19.

[0034] Reference numeral 24 denotes a disk I0 interface for allowing thefile system 18 to perform the reading and writing operations of the harddisk 25, and 17 indicates a drawing management system constructing theOS 15 and having a function for enabling the application software 14 todraw without being aware of the hardware 19.

[0035] Reference numeral 23 denotes a video interface for allowing thedrawing management system 17 to draw onto a display, and 16 indicates aninput device management system constructing the OS 15 and having afunction for enabling the application software 14 to receive an input ofthe user without being aware of the hardware 19.

[0036] Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard interface for allowingthe input device management system 16 to receive an input of thekeyboard 5, and 22 indicates a mouse interface for enabling the inputdevice management system 16 to receive an input from the mouse 3.

[0037] The electronic camera 7 is connected to a bidirectional interface26, an SCSI interface, or the like and can transmit and receive imagedata or the like through the input device management system 16.

[0038] Reference numeral 11 denotes an electronic camera hostapplication; 12 a data management unit for managing the image data byattribute information or by a keyword or the like which is inputted bythe user; and 13 a data display unit for displaying the managed imagedata.

[0039] In the system, the image data from the electronic camera 7 istransferred to a computer or the transferred image data is registeredinto the image data management system 11 by the electronic camera hostapplication 11.

[0040]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system construction of theelectronic camera 7. Blocks which are not directly necessary whenexplaining the embodiment although they are obviously included in thecomponent requirements are not shown.

[0041] In FIG. 3, an image pickup unit 31 includes a lens and a CCD andgenerates a photographed image as image data (JPG data). The imagepickup unit 31 also simultaneously forms thumbnail image data as areduction image of the photographed image.

[0042] In the electronic camera 7 in the system, not only the image isphotographed but also an audio sound can be recorded and is outputted asrecording data (WAVE data) by a recording unit 32. An auxiliary storagedevice 33 is used to store data from the image pickup unit 31 andrecording unit 32 as a file. In this system, a memory card correspondingto PCMCIA as a detachable recording medium is used as an auxiliarystorage device 33.

[0043] Reference numeral 34 denotes an interface when connecting theelectronic camera 7 and the computer. The interface 34 is connected tothe bidirectional parallel/SCSI interface 26 in FIG. 2. A generalinterface such as bidirectional parallel interface, SCSI interface, orthe like is used as an interface 34 in a manner similar to the interface26.

[0044] Reference numeral 35 denotes a control unit constructing filename forming means. The control unit 35 controls the operation of thewhole electronic camera. Reference numeral 36 denotes a file numberthreshold memory for holding the maximum value of the normal valuesamong the numerical values included in the file. In this system, whennumerical values exceeding this numerical value are included in the filename, some exception process is executed, thereby preventing theoverlapped file name from being formed after the numerical values werecirculated once.

[0045] Reference numeral 37 denotes a current file number counterserving as a nonvolatile memory to hold the numerical values included inthe file name that is subsequently formed. An initial value (which isset at the time of shipping of the electronic camera 7 from a factory)of the current file number is equal to 1. Therefore, even if the on/offoperation of a power source of the electronic camera 7, an exchange ofthe memory card, or the like is executed, the file name which isgenerated by one electronic camera 7 in a lifetime is fundamentallyunique and peculiar name which is not overlapped.

[0046] A rule of naming a file name and a directory name in the systemwill now be described.

[0047] In the system of the embodiment, in order to automatically formthe unique file name, numerical values of five digits are included in apart of the file name. In this instance, it is assumed that thenumerical values to be included are fundamentally sequentially increasedfrom 1 each time the file is formed. When the numerical values which areformed are equal to or larger than the values stored in the file numberthreshold memory 36, the exception process is executed.

[0048] In the embodiment, the numerical values of 99900 have been storedin the file number threshold memory 36. The numerical values of 99900are numerical values for providing an allowance of up to 99999 as amaximum value of decimal number of five digits and are not limited tothem. For example, there is no problem in case of 99000. By setting thefile number threshold value with a certain allowance, even if the filename including the numerical values exceeding this threshold value isformed, a situation that an inconvenience immediately occur can beavoided.

[0049] The files are classified into subdirectories every predeterminednumber of files in accordance with the numerical values included in thefile name. The file name of the subdirectory is also automaticallyformed and stored into the storage device.

[0050] In the system, the subdirectory to store the files formed by theelectronic camera 7 starts from “CTG” like “CTG10100” and subsequentlyhas a file name of eight characters comprising decimal number of fivedigits. Explanation will now be made on the assumption that the decimalnumber of five digits is set to the directory number and the directoryfor storage is set to a CTG directory.

[0051] The CTG directory is arranged under a “DC” subdirectory under theroute directory in the auxiliary storage device 33.

[0052] A name of the file of image and audio data which is formed by theelectronic camera 7 is constructed by a file name of eight charactersand an extension of three characters. In the system, alphanumericalcharacters of three characters from the head of the file name to storethe image data are fixedly set to “AUT”. Similarly, head threecharacters of the file name of the thumbnail image are fixedly set to“THM” and three characters from the head of the file name of the audiodata are fixedly set to “SND”.

[0053] For example, in case of the image data, the file name is“AUT10100. JPG”. In case of the thumbnail data, the file name is“THM10100. JPG”. In case of the audio data, the file name is “SND10100.WAV”. As mentioned above, each file name is expressed by threecharacters, the decimal number of five digits, and the extension ofthree characters. In the following description, the decimal number offive digits is set to the file number.

[0054] In this system, the image files or audio files having the samefile number are treated as a group of data and are set to an object.That is, the file names of the same file number are included in oneobject. For example, the file name of the thumbnail image data for theimage data of the file name “AUT10100. JPG” is “THM10100. JPG”. Whenthere is audio data, its file name is “SND10100. WAV”. Those three filesconstruct one object. In the system of the embodiment, each time oneobject is formed, the value of the current file number counter 37 isincreased by 1.

[0055] In the system, in order to handle the object as one data unit, incase of deleting data, it is performed on an object unit basis. In caseof deleting the object from the camera 7 or the host application of thecomputer, if there is an attribute of protect (or ReadOnly) even in oneof the files included in the object, such an object cannot be deleted.

[0056] In the system, the number (kNumObjInDir) of objects included inone CTG directory has been predetermined. Further, a directory number(dirNo) of the CTG directory in which the object in which the filehaving a certain file number (fileNo) is included exists is determinedby an equation (A) in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows a constructional example ofdirectories and files formed by the camera 7 in accordance with thisrule.

[0057] A forming method of the file name and a deciding method and aforming method of the CTG directory to store the file name in the systemof the embodiment will now be described.

[0058] In the system, MS-DOS of Microsoft Co., Ltd. is used as a diskoperating system to manage the file structure of the memory card servingas a storage device of the electronic camera 7.

[0059] Processes which are executed when the memory card serving as astorage medium is inserted into the electronic camera 7 or when thepower source of the electronic camera 7 is turned on will now bedescribed with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0060] First, a check is made in step S1 to see if the card insertedinto the electronic card 7 is normal. If it is not normal, in order tonotify the user of such a fact, a warning message is displayed in stepS18 and the processing routine is finished. The card which is not normalindicates a card such that the electronic camera 7 cannot read thecontents of the card or the like. In case of the normal card, step S2follows.

[0061] In step S2, the file structure in the memory area of the card isexamined and a check is made to see if the file of the file name “DC”exists in the route directory. If the file of such a file name exists,since the directory of the same name cannot be formed, step S18 followsand a message to notify the user of the reason is displayed on a displayapparatus and the processes are finished. When the file of the name “DC”does not exist in the route directory, step S3 follows.

[0062] In step S3, a check is made to see if the directory of the name“DC” exists in the route directory. In the system, data such as imagedata or audio data which is generated by the electronic camera is storedin the directory of the name “DC” as a subdirectory of the routedirectory. Such a directory is called a DC directory in the followingdescription.

[0063] When the DC directory does not exist, step S17 follows and a DCdirectory is formed. After that, the processing routine advances to stepS19. When the DC directory exists, step S4 follows.

[0064] In step S4, the contents in the DC directory are examined. When aspace CTG directory exists, it is deleted. The space CTG directorydenotes a directory in which none of the file and directory existstherein.

[0065] In step S5, a check is made to see if the CTG directory exists inthe DC directory. If it does not exist, step S19 follows.

[0066] Step S19 relates to a process which is executed when the CTGdirectory does not exist as a subdirectory of the DC directory. That is,it is a process which is executed in the case where the card just afterit was formatted by the camera 7 or the host application or the camerawhich was all erased (Erase All) is inserted into the electronic camera7.

[0067] The current file number which is stored into the current filenumber counter 37 of the electronic camera 7 is compared with the filenumber threshold value recorded in the file number threshold memory 36.When the current file number exceeds the file number threshold value, aprocess in step S20 is executed in order to perform an exception process(1), which will be explained hereinlater. After that, the processingroutine advances to step S21 and the CTG directory in which the currentdirectory number is set to the directory number is formed. The processesare finished.

[0068] The current directory number is obtained by substituting thecurrent file number for the file number of the equation (A) in FIG. 8.Even in the following description, the current directory numberindicates the directory number which is obtained by substituting thecurrent file number at that time point for the equation (A) in FIG. 8.

[0069] In step S5, when one or more CTG directories exist in the DCdirectory, the processing routine advances to step S6.

[0070] In step S6, a directory entry starting from “CTG” is searchedfrom the directory entries in the DC directory. The directory entryhaving the maximum directory number is obtained from them and such avalue is stored into a maximum directory number dirNoFound as avariable.

[0071] In step S7, a check is made to see if something having the namecorresponding to the maximum directory number dirNoFound obtained instep S6 is a file or a directory. In case of the directory, step S12follows. In case of the file, step S8 follows and the value of themaximum directory number dirNoFound is increased by 1. Subsequently, acheck is made in step S9 to see if the resultant value exceeds the upperlimit directory number.

[0072] The upper limit directory number is obtained by substituting99999 as an upper limit among possible values as a file number for thefile number fileNo in the equation (A) in FIG. 8. If the maximumdirectory number dirNoFound is larger than this value, an error messageis displayed in step S18 and the processes are finished. If it is notlarger, the processing routine advances to step S10.

[0073] In step S10, a check is made to see if the CTG directory in whichthe maximum directory number dirNoFound obtained in step S8 is set tothe directory number exists. When it does not exist, a CTG directory isformed in step S11.

[0074] In step S12, a check is made to see if the current directorynumber currDirNo is larger than the maximum directory number dirNoFoundby comparing them. When it is larger, a CTG directory in which thecurrent directory number is set to the directory number is formed instep S23. When it is smaller, the processing routine advances to stepS13.

[0075] In step S13, the contents in the directory in which the maximumdirectory number dirNoFound is equal to the directory number areexamined. A file having the maximum file number among the files includedin the directory is obtained and stored into the maximum file numberfileNoFound. In this instance, when the file does not exist in thedirectory, the minimum value among the possible values which can be setinto the file number fileNo when the directory number dirNoFound in anequation (B) in FIG. 8 is substituted is set.

[0076] In step S14, the maximum file number obtained in step S13 iscompared with the current file number. When the current file number islarger, step S15 follows. If NO, the processing routine advances to stepS16.

[0077] In step S15, the current file number is changed to the valueobtained by adding 1 to the maximum file number. The current directorynumber is updated by the equation (A) in FIG. 8 on the basis of theresultant value.

[0078] In step S16, a check is made to see if a CTG directory in whichthe current directory number is set to the directory number exists. Whenit exists, the processes are finished. When it does not exist, a CTGdirectory corresponding to the current directory number is formed instep S21 and the processing routine is finished.

[0079] By the above processes, the setting of the CTG directory to storethe data which is generated by the camera when the card is inserted intothe system and the setting of the current file number included in thefile name to be subsequently formed are executed.

[0080] When the formatted card or the EraseAll card is inserted, if thecurrent file number is larger than the file number threshold value, thecurrent file number is initialized to 1. In this case, since no objectought to certainly exist in the memory card, a situation such that thenew data is stored by the same file name as the file which hasoriginally existed and the inherent data which has originally existed islost is prevented.

[0081] A case of storing the data generated by the camera 7 into thecard will now be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.5.

[0082] First, in step S31, data to be recorded is stored as a file intothe storage device. The file number at this time is a current filenumber and the directory number of the CTG directory in which the fileis stored is obtained from the current file number by the equation (A)in FIG. 8.

[0083] In step S32, the current file number is increased by 1 and thecurrent directory number is obtained on the basis of the resultantvalue.

[0084] In step S33, a check is made to see if the directorycorresponding to the current directory number exists in the DCdirectory. When it has already existed, the processing routine isfinished. When it does not exist, in step S34, a directory in which thedirectory number is set to the current directory number is formed andthe processes are finished.

[0085] The above exception process will now be described. In the system,by storing the current file number into the camera 7, the file namewhich is generated by one camera is made unique. As mentioned above,however, since the file name is made up of the file number comprisingalphanumerical characters of three characters and the decimal number offive digits and the extension of three characters like “AUT10100. JPG”,the last (maximum) values which can be used as a file number are equalto 99999.

[0086] Hitherto, when the current file number exceeds such a value, thecamera displays an error and does not operate or simply initializes thefile number to 0 and newly forms a file irrespective of a fact that thefile of the file number 0 exists. In the embodiment, therefore, thefollowing processes are executed as exception processes so as to preventthe camera from entering such a situation.

[0087] (1) First, in the case where the current file number stored inthe camera 7 is equal to or larger than 99999 as a file number thresholdvalue and no CTG directory exists in the card, the value of the currentfile number is initialized to 1.

[0088] (2) When the card having the file whose file number is equal toor larger than 99900 is found in the host application, all of the filesare transferred from the card to the computer and, after that, a messageto promote the user to delete all of the CTG directories by a cardformatting process or the like is displayed.

[0089] The above first exception process (1) is executed when the cardis inserted or when the power source of the electronic camera is turnedon with the card inserted. This process is executed when the currentfile number exceeds the preset file number threshold value (99900) inthe camera. If the CTG directory does not exist in the card, the currentfile number is initialized in the camera sole body. This processcorresponds to the process in step S20 in FIG. 4B.

[0090] The second exception process (2) is executed when the computerintends to read the card. When the file in which a value that is equalto or larger than the file number threshold value set in the camera 7 isset to the file number exists, a warning message is displayed, therebypromoting the user to delete all of the CTG directories in the card.After that, when the card is again inserted into the camera or the powersource is again turned on, the exception process (1) in step S20 in theflowchart described in FIG. 4B is executed and the current file numberis reset to 1.

[0091] By the above operation, even if the file number is overlapped andformed, a situation that the data is lost by overwriting the file can beavoided.

[0092] The operation of the above exception process will now bedescribed with reference to a flowchart.

[0093]FIG. 6 shows the operation of the first exception process (1)which is executed by the electronic camera 7 and corresponds to theprocess in step S20 in FIG. 4B.

[0094] First, the card inserted in the camera 7 is examined in step S41to see if the CTG directory exists. If it does not exist, the currentfile number is reset to 1 in step S42.

[0095]FIG. 7 shows the operation of the second exception process (2)which is executed when the camera 7 is connected to the computer. Thisprocess is executed by the host application.

[0096] First in step S51, a check is made to see if a CTG directorystoring the file whose file number is equal to or larger than the filenumber threshold value exists. The file number threshold value isobtained from the camera 7. The directory number of the CTG directory tobe examined here is obtained by substituting the file number thresholdvalue for the file number in the equation (A) in FIG. 8. When it doesnot exist, the exception process (2) is finished. When it exists, theprocessing routine advances to step S52.

[0097] Step S52 is a process which is executed when the current filenumber exceeds the file number threshold value. In this case, a warningmessage and a message showing a method of taking a countermeasure aredisplayed to the user.

[0098] By the above two exception processes, by setting the file numberthreshold value to a value smaller than the maximum value among thepossible values as a file number so as to have an allowance, if the filehaving the file number exceeding the file number threshold value exists,the warning message and the method of taking the countermeasure areshown by the host application. Since the file number threshold value issmaller than the possible values of the file number, even in a situationsuch that the file number has to exceed the file number threshold value,the camera 7 can be used for a little while (until the file number isequal to the maximum value among the possible values) without anyinconvenience.

[0099] In the system of the embodiment as mentioned above, by holdingthe numerical values into the nonvolatile counter to store the numericalvalues which are included into the name of the file that is formed bythe electronic camera 7, the file name which is generated by one camera7 becomes unique in its lifetime. When the numerical values arecirculated once and are initialized, even in the case where the value ofthe counter is unavoidably initialized and the same file name has to beformed, a data loss which is caused by overwriting and storing into thefile which originally has existed by the same name can be prevented.

[0100] Although, in the above-described embodiment, a warning is givenwhen the file number exceeds the upper limit of the file number, thepresent invention is not limited to this embodiment. It may be alsopossible to monitor whether the directory number exceeds an upper limitvalue thereof. As an example of this case, the step S19 shown in FIG. 4Bmay be changed to a step S19′ shown in FIG. 4C to monitor whether thecurrent directory number exceeds 99900 or not. In this connection, thedirectory threshold value 99900 may be stored in a nonvolatile memory ofthe camera. Alternately, it may be possible that the value 4995001obtained from the first expression of the equation (B) in FIG. 8 withsubstitution of 99900 of the directory number, is stored in thenonvolatile memory of the camera as the file number threshold value andthen substituted into the equation (A) in FIG. 8 to calculate thedirectory threshold value. In the latter case, as shown in a step S19″of FIG. 4D, the current file number, of course, can be compared directlywith the file number threshold value. In addition, if the file numberexceeds a number of five figures, the file name may be generated basedon lower file figures of that file number. For example, a file whosefile number is 110010, is AUT10010.JPG, THM10010.JPG, SDN10010.WAV, andits directory is CTG02200.

[0101] According to the invention as described above, in the system suchthat the file names are sequentially formed by, for instance, includingthe numerical values in the ascending or descending order into the filenames, by preparing the counter to hold the numerical values to beincluded in the file names, even if the power source of the image pickupapparatus is turned on/off or the recording medium is exchanged, so longas the image data is recorded by the same image pickup apparatus, thepeculiar file name which is not overlapped can be formed for therecording image data and a situation such that a plurality of files ofthe same name exist can be prevented.

[0102] By displaying a warning message and a method of taking acountermeasure as an exception process when the value of the counterlies within a certain range, even in the case where the numerical valuesare circulated once and the same file name is formed, a situation suchthat the file is overwritten and the data is deleted can be prevented.

[0103] Further, by classifying the files into appropriate directoriesand storing the classified files, time required by the file system tosearch the existing files to determine a new file name can be shortened.For example, when the kNumObjInDir described in the embodiment ispredetermined as 50, the number of files stored in one directory is 150at the maximum. Specifically, when a 1000-th image is recorded bysearching the file names of the other recorded images to detect whetherthe same file name exists or not, only directory entry for 20directories and 147 files at the maximum has to be searched comparedwith when 1000 images are stored in one directory. Therefore, timerequired to determine the new file name can be reduced to less thanone-fifth. This search can be executed by a CPU of 80C86 8 MHz withinone second and thus is of enough practical use. In addition, by settingthe kNumObjInDir as 50, relationship between the directory number andthe file number can be easily calculated by a person and thus easilyrecognized by him.

[0104] Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may beconstructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments described in the specification,except as defined in the appended claims.

1.-39. (Canceled)
 40. A file management method of managing photographedimage data in a form of a file, comprising: an image input step ofinputting the photographed image data; an image file storing step ofautomatically giving a file name which includes a predetermined filenumber, to the image data input in said image input step and thenstoring the image data into a predetermined folder as an image file; anaudio information obtaining step of obtaining audio informationassociated with the image file stored in said image file storing step;and an audio information storing step of storing as an audio file theaudio information obtained in said audio information obtaining step intothe folder same as that of the image file and automatically giving tothe audio file a file name which includes the file number same as thatof the image file and has an extension different from that of the imagefile.
 41. A file management method according to claim 40, furthercomprising a file deleting step of, in case that the image file isdeleted, automatically deleting the audio file which is stored in thesame folder as the image file to be deleted and has the sane file numberas the image file to be deleted.
 42. A file management method accordingto claim 40, further comprising a file deleting step of, in case thatthe audio file is deleted, automatically deleting the image file whichis stored in the same folder as the audio file to be deleted and has thesame file number as the audio file to be deleted.
 43. A file managementmethod according to claim 40 or 41, further comprising: a discriminatingstep of, in case that one of the image file and the audio file, both ofwhich have the same file number, is deleted, discriminating whether ornot one of the image file and the audio file, both of which have thesame file number, is protected from being deleted; and a deletioninhibiting step of, in case that said discriminating step discriminatesthat one of the image file and the audio file is protected from beingdeleted, inhibiting the other from being deleted.
 44. A file managementmethod according to claim 40, wherein said image file storing step givesa serial number as the file name having the predetermined file number,to the image data input in said image input step, by using a counter andthen stores the image data into the predetermined folder as the imagefile, and said image file storing step includes a detection step of,when a memory is changed to other one, detecting the maximum file numberin a storage directory in the other memory, and a comparison step ofcomparing a value of the counter and the file number detected in saiddetection step so that said image file storing step uses said detectionstep and said comparison step to give the file numbers which do notoverlap with each other.
 45. An image pickup apparatus which managesphotographed image data in a form of a file, comprising: image inputmeans for inputting the photographed image data; image file storingmeans for automatically giving a file name which includes apredetermined file number, to the image data input by said image inputmeans and then storing the image data into a predetermined folder as animage file; audio information obtaining means for obtaining audioinformation associated with the image file stored by said image filestoring means; and audio information storing means for storing as anaudio file the audio information obtained by said audio informationobtaining means into the folder same as that of the image file andautomatically giving to the audio file a file name which includes thefile number same as that of the image file and has an extensiondifferent from that of the image file.
 46. An image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 45, further comprising file deleting means for, incase that the image file is deleted, automatically deleting the audiofile which is stored in the same folder as the image file to be deletedand has the same file number as the image file to be deleted.
 47. Animage pickup apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising filedeleting means for, in case that the audio file is deleted,automatically deleting the image file which is stored in the same folderas the audio file to be deleted and has the same file number as theaudio file to be deleted.
 48. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 45 or 46 further comprising: discriminating means for, in casethat one of the image file and the audio file, both of which have thesame file number, is deleted, discriminating whether or not one of theimage file and the audio file, both of which have the same file number,is protected from being deleted; and deletion inhibiting means for, incase that said discriminating step discriminates that one of the imagefile and the audio file is protected from being deleted, inhibiting theother from being deleted.
 49. An image pickup apparatus according toclaim 45, wherein said image file storing means gives a serial number asthe file name having the predetermined file number, to the image datainput by said image input means, by using a counter and then stores theimage data into the predetermined folder as the image file, and saidimage file storing means include detection means for, when a memory ischanged to other one, detecting the maximum file number in a storagedirectory in the other memory, and comparison means for comparing avalue of the counter and the file number detected by said detectionmeans so that said image file storing step uses said detection means andsaid comparison means to give the file numbers which do not overlap witheach other.